There are as many places to meet someone as there are people to meet. That, however, doesn't make it easy. The chance of meeting a suitable date is governed by many forces, but there are two things you can count on:
* if you look like hell (ie: bad hair day, zit on your nose, underdressed), you will certainly notice many more attractive potential dates than at any other time.
* when you look your best (which usually involves being overdressed),there won't be a datable person in sight.
There's really nothing you can do about this, other than always being underdressed with mussed up hair, which in some circles is very hip. If you do find yourself overdressed, then it's important to act as if you're over-educated, but we'll discuss this in the GETING READY section.
Perhaps the most popular place to meet people is at a nightclub. Of course, going out to a club is often done with a group of friends. This is good and this is bad. A group of friends keeps you from hanging about appearing as if you're looking for dates.
But a group of friends can also make you unapproachable. The best thing to do is go with friends, but take sojourns around the club on your own. Be aware that a nightclub is not the ideal place to find potential dates. They are dark, which can significantly impair your ability to judge potential dates. They are noisy, which can impair a potential date from hearing your proposal. And, of course, nightclubs serve lots of alcohol, which can impair your ability to do many things. In fact, many alliances formed in clubs do end up with a date, but that date often comes after alcohol impaired sex. This is not recommended because a date is something normally done before sex. There's a reason for this, it gives you a chance to back out. Alcohol clouds that opportunity.
Laundromats have often been touted as good places to meet potential dates. There's certainly something to this. First, there's something inherently sexy about domestic chores. Second, you're rarely overdressed when doing laundry. Third, there's not much to do while waiting for the spin cycle to finish. If you go this route, it's important to remember these tips:
* Don't wash your ratty underwear at the laundromat. This is a total turn-off. Only take the ones that are unstained and in good repair.
* Never wait until you have nothing left to wear. Showing up with 18 loads of laundry implies a certain laziness that is unattractive. Three to five loads will give you ample time to start conversations and set dates.
Grocery stores are over-rated as places to find dates because you must plan carefully. The healthy, tanned, and muscular stud in the produce section will be turned off if your basket is filled with a billion grams of fat and cholesterol. Likewise, a vegetarian will not be enticed by the six pounds of red meat you've selected. The best thing to do if you choose this route is push around an empty cart until you spot a potential date. Then, note what this person has in their own basket and go about filling yours with similar items. This allows you to follow them around the store, as well as establish something in common. It doesn't matter that you don't eat these things. Once the date is made, you simply ditch the cart in an area where the potential date didn't shop. If you end up following your date through the check-out line, therefore unable to ditch the cart, you mustpay for everything then donate it to a charity. Of course this only works when you need dates more than groceries.
Coffee shops and cafes are hip these days and are excellent date scoping grounds. Like the nightclub, however, these are places where you're likely to be with a group of friends. Go alone and make sure you have room at your table. The personal ads are tailor-made for finding dates, but they carrytheir own cautions and perils. Regardless of where you find a potential date, it all for naught if you don't know how to ask them out.